Justified preferred in fascinating head-to-head
Three times the pair have met over flights and on each occasion Wild Passion proved the stronger. Both horses enjoyed excellent starts to their chasing careers.
Wild Passion beat two smart sorts in Kill Devil Hill and Publican on this track, but I was more taken by Justified’s nine lengths defeat of Doctor Linton, also at Punchestown, and he is preferred.
Equally fascinating is the Maplewood Developments Morgina Hurdle, which has the makings of a terrific contest, but looks a race to savour, rather than getting heavily involved from a punting point of view.
Macs Joy was at his best in the first part of last season and could easily beat the Champion hurdle second and third respectively, Harchibald and Brave Inca.
But Brave Inca has done us proud in the past and this teak, tough sort gets the vote, particularly with Tony McCoy in the plate
Kill Devil Hill rates a sound wager in the www.punchestown.com Beginners Chase. He is crying out for this trip, two and a half miles, and was doing all his best work at the end of two miles last time when runner-up to Wild Passion at Punchestown.
Dual bumper winner Firth Of Forth will probably be a tough nut to crack in the INH Stallion Owners’ Maiden Hurdle, but preference is for Alexander Taipan, who gained valuable experience when second behind the moderate Coaltion at Down Royal.
At Cork this afternoon the exciting Mossbank puts his unbeaten record over flights on the line in the Eagle Star EBF Novice Hurdle. He produced stylish performances at Limerick and Fairyhouse and trainer, Michael Hourigan, believes the five-year-old won’t come into his own until travelling over today’s trip, three miles.
Aleatory, not one for the mortgage, is the nap choice in the Newmarket Maiden Hurdle. He performed well enough when third to Bob Hall and Carthalawn at Fairyhouse and the fitting of blinkers for the first time is hardly a minus.
Alpha Royale, far from disgraced behind well regarded O’Muircheartaight at Navan last weekend, is difficult enough to oppose in the Mallow Hurdle.
At Punchestown this afternoon Miss Caruso, who created a big impression on her debut over jumps at Limerick earlier in the week, is the one to beat in the Irish Racing Annual three-year-old Hurdle.
If Kerryhead Windfarm jumps properly then he’ll take the Irish Field Chase, but his technique went to pieces at Thurles last time and preference is for Slim Pickings, a close second to Southern Vic at Galway.
At Cork tomorrow the progressive A New Story will relish every yard of the three and a half miles of the Paddy Power Cork Grand National and holds every chance of completing a hat-trick, despite being 5lbs wrong at the weights.
